Metal 3D printing for healthcare

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is an exciting technology whose benefits are being readily embraced with real life applications being developed daily.

Metal 3D printing removes many of the constraints seen in more traditional manufacturing methods such as milling, casting or fabrication. This opens up new possibilities for complex geometries and mass customisation of parts, at a commercially viable cost, that were previously unfeasible.

The possibilities of additive manufacturing

Metal 3D printing removes many of the constraints seen in more traditional manufacturing methods such as milling, casting or fabrication. This opens up new possibilities for complex geometries and mass customisation of parts, at a commercially viable cost, that were previously unfeasible.

With the capability of producing complex features and accurate parts, metal 3D printing is highly suited to the production of medical and dental devices in both cobalt chrome and titanium.

Additive manufacturing can be applied to custom medical device manufacture for craniomaxillofacial implants and guides. Orthopaedics and dental devices are just some of the areas in which additive manufacturing is being used, with many more applications possible. Renishaw is keen to work with its customers to improve existing custom devices, or develop new applications that are yet to be exploited.

Metal 3D printing - an overview

Renishaw's laser melting is a pioneering additive manufacturing process capable of producing fully dense metal parts direct from 3D CAD files using a high-powered fibre laser. Parts are built from a range of fine metal powders that are fully melted in a tightly controlled atmosphere layer by layer in thicknesses ranging from 20 to 100 microns. Want to know more?

Misson to Nepal

A young mother received ground-breaking surgery at the expert hands of consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon Shakir Mustafa during an aid and education mission visit to Nepal.
See how pre-planned processes created a perfectly fitting implant with excellent surgical results.

A young mother received ground-breaking surgery at the expert hands of consultant Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon Shakir Mustafa during an aid and education mission visit to Nepal.
See how pre-planned processes created a perfectly fitting implant with excellent surgical results.

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Facial reconstruction using metal 3D printing

See how Renishaw custom made cutting and placement guides helped to return a customer's smile. By using 3D printed cobalt chrome cutting and placement guides, surgeon Mr Adrian Sugar was able to streamline the operation. Mr Sugar was very pleased with result saying "I think it’s incomparable - the results are in a different league from anything we’ve done before."

See how Renishaw custom made cutting and placement guides helped to return a customer's smile. By using 3D printed cobalt chrome cutting and placement guides, surgeon Mr Adrian Sugar was able to streamline the operation. Mr Sugar was very pleased with result saying "I think it’s incomparable - the results are in a different league from anything we’ve done before."

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) is changing and improving many traditional industries and processes. Healthcare is no exception with reconstructive surgery being particularly prominent. A horrific motorcycle accident left Stephen Power with multiple skull fractures that changed his life and meant he would require reconstructive surgery.

From complex reconstructive facial surgery to orthopaedic and trauma surgery, advances in additive manufacturing have inspired a growing number of progressive surgeons to commission metal 3D printed patient specific implants (PSIs) and cutting guides for both complex and straightforward procedures.

Metal 3D printing's real life applications are ever increasing. Read how a NRIEF's mission to Nepal has taken advantage of this technology by helping a young mother who was a road traffic collision victim.

Complex reconstructive surgery can significantly benefit from a digital workflow and pre-planning processes to help optimise operating theatre productivity with excellent surgical results. Read how Renishaw used its additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) expertise to help the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) treat a patient who suffered cancer of the lower jaw and required removal of the affected region coupled with reconstructive work.

A truly international effort, involving input from Germany, Canada and the UK has seen additive manufacturing (AM), also known as metal 3D printing, used to great effect to help save a Canadian family's dog.
In a recent procedure, Renishaw helped to produce an implant designed by Voxelmed in Germany that was fitted in Canada, to replace the hard tissue lost due to tumour removal.

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